Liechtenstein
Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein
hereditary constitutional monarchy
Liechtenstein as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 104 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to conclude a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral) the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. However, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money laundering.
Geography
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
18 fieldsClimate
- continental;
- cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain;
- cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Land use
arable land: 24% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 35% other: 25% (1993 est.)
Environment - international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2001 est.)
Religions(1996)
Age structure
0-14 years: 18.41% (male 2,992; female 2,996) 15-64 years: 70.6% (male 11,455; female 11,511) 65 years and over: 10.99% (male 1,439; female 2,135) (2001 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.95 years male: 75.32 years female: 82.6 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1981 est.)
Government
Hereditary constitutional monarchy; Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Diet or Landtag, 25 seatsone dot, one seat
Country name
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein
Administrative divisions
11 communes (gemeinden, singular - gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence
23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established; 12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984);
- Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968) head of government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 2 February 1997) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet;
- confirmed by the monarch elections: none;
- the monarch is hereditary;
- following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch
Legislative branch
unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 9-11 February 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005) election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 49.90%, VU 41.35%, FL 8.71%; seats by party - FBP 13, VU 11, FL 1
Political parties and leaders
- Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald KRANZ];
- Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Dr. Ernst WALCH];
- The Free List or FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Karin JENNY, Rene HASLER]
International organization participation
CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO (observer), WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
Liechtenstein's Ambassador to the US, Claudia FRITSCHE, is dually accredited to the UN in New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy
31 fieldsEconomy - overview
Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and living standards on a par with the urban areas of its large European neighbors. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 18% - and easy incorporation rules have induced 73,700 holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues.
The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.
Labor force
22,891 of which 13,847 are foreigners; 8,231 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day
Labor force - by occupation
industry, trade, and building 45%, services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2% (1997 est.)
Budget
revenues: $424.2 million expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries
electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Exchange rates
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.6303 (January 2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996)
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
general assessment: automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay
Transportation
5 fieldsRailways
total: 18.5 km; note - owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
Military
1 fieldTransnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - international
Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of land in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918
Illicit drugs
multilateral organizations engaged in issuing international guidelines for financial sector oversight have found gaps in Liechtenstein's financial services controls that make it vulnerable to money laundering
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Liechtenstein.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/liechtenstein/2001.